Local voices: Gun control

•Francisco Escobedo, superintendent of the Chula Vista Elementary School District: “(Our district has) a long-standing partnership in place with the Chula Vista Police Department, which provides School Resource Officers at our campuses. We will be discussing ways to strengthen and enhance this partnership, along with developing a heightened visibility from our other first responders.”

Mental health

•Dr. Michael Plopper, chief medical officer for Sharp HealthCare Behavioral Health Services: “In general, these orders are in the right direction in terms of finding methods to prevent gun violence. However, they aren’t really very specific and don’t really address some of the core issues, such as access to care for the most severely mentally ill who suffer from conditions including psychosis with delusional beliefs and hallucinations, which may command a person to take certain actions.”

•Alfredo Aguirre, director of San Diego County Behavioral Health Services: “I am definitely encouraged by the president’s recommendation as it pertains to improving the community behavioral health system across the country.”

•Dr. Dilip Jeste, chief of the geriatric psychiatry division at University of California San Diego and president of the American Psychiatric Association: “I applaud the proposals set forth by President Barack Obama today aimed at reducing gun violence and preventing future horrific events such as the shooting in Newtown, Conn., last month. In particular, several proposals address the need to improve access to quality mental-health care.”

Advocates

•Susan Taylor, San Diego chapter president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence: “Americans have to make sure legislators are getting the word from constituents about voting on these issues. President Obama has been clear that he’s not sure everything will pass. ... The background checks and limiting the magazine sizes are probably the most important measures, but looking at mental health (is important) as well.”

•Sam Wolanyk, gun-rights and “open carry” activist: “Only law-abiding people obey laws, so passing more laws thinking it’s going to stop a criminal is like chasing your tail. When someone goes off their nut and starts shooting, the first thing everyone does is try and call for a man with a gun to come on the scene. But nobody seems to see the wisdom of having people already on the scene with their own weapons, able to defend themselves and their children.”

•Diann Bauer, grandmother and member of Parents of Murdered Children: “As long as Congress doesn’t veto this thing, it’d be great. ... The background checks are such a big, important part. Not only a background check, but also better communication about the mentally ill between law enforcement, the people that sell the guns, and the health care providers.”

•Lincoln Pickard, Tea Party member and San Diego-based spokesman for the U.S. Gun Club: “I would be against the assault weapons ban. They are counterproductive. ... If you allow the citizens to take on the responsibility of carrying a concealed weapon, to get the training to be responsible doing it, then a lot of these problems would go away.”